Rescue Dog Brags

IBR's Rugged Vigilante on the road to his Junior Hunter Title

Bronson's new AKC registered name is now IBR's Rugged Vigilante ILP# 159490. ILP stands for Indefinite Listing Privilege and is a limited registry for pure bred dogs that have no proof of pedigree. Now that Bronson has his ILP- he will be entered into a few Hunt tests this fall. Bronson was an abused hunting dog and he is still leery of strangers- but his rehab and TLC has helped him build his confidence and I am hopeful he will get his Junior Hunter's Title while in foster care.

09-04-07 HUNT TEST UPDATE: Well Bronson did very well at his first local Hunt test. He has come a long way from the frightened abused Pointer who was pulled with days to spare back in March of this year. He made his foster Mommy very proud on Labor Day getting his first JH pass. He pointed several quail and even retrieved one to hand. He appears to be over his gun shyness but needs a lot of work on his recall. It was a feel good to see him somewhat at ease around new dogs and people- especially men.

Bronson's stay in foster care with IBR is another testament to the good work we do and how important our volunteer efforts are to help save and rehab these abandoned birddogs. Our goal will always be to place these dogs in pet homes first, but if we can help a homeless hunter (who by no fault of their own ) are dumped into a high kill shelter deemed unworthy by some good ol boy who in Bronson's case- treated him unkindly - and then bring them back to the point where they can be hunted over again someday, then that really makes our extra efforts worth while.

Bronson has turned into a first class house dog too and the fact that he lives indoors and IS neutered has no affect on his hunting desire. Many folks would argue that these dogs won't hunt unless they live outdoors and are left intact- NOT TRUE!!

Be sure to check out Bronson's Blog to read his full story and to follow his progress.

Nala Puppies Place in Field Trial

On July 26, 2004 Princess Nala, a once stray pointer, gave birth to 11 healthy bouncy pointer puppies. On April 16th, 2005, several of Nala's pups participated in their very first AKC field trial.

In the puppy stakes, placing first was parvo surivor, Hercules (pictured on right), placing third was Maverick (middle), and placing fourth was Duchess (left). Way to go puppies!!!

April 16th and 17th, 2005, at the Weimaraner Club of Northern Illinois several IBR dogs took home orange ribbons and a got a few steps closer to their Junior Hunter titles.


Way to go Alex and Ben!!!

Rocky got 2 legs towards his title that weekend!
Rocky in the field. (Photo by Pet Personalities.)

March 19 and 20th, 2005, IBR dogs participated in the German Wirehair Pointer Club of Illinois hunt test.


Mary and Rocky grab their first orange ribbon.
Rocky with a beautiful point in the bird field.

Zac and Maverick (one of Nala's pups grab their first orange ribbon also.
Mav on point in the bird field.

Ben and Alex grab their first orange ribbon also.
Alex with a stunning point in the bird field.

Alex is greeting the crowd.
Mav's hanging out in the clubhouse waiting for his ribbon!

February 12th, 2005 IBR dogs qualified at the LaSalle Brittany Club hunt test.


Rob and Ivy secure their second JH leg.
Rob and Oliver also had some success.

Over Halloween Weekend 2004, several of us participated in the American Field Amateur Walking Field Trials at Moraine View State Park.

Among the IBR dogs represented were Wesleigh, Thelma Lou, Oliver, Ivy, and Ginger. While everyone did an excellent job and ran their hearts out, we are especially proud of Rob and Oliver who took 3rd place in the Open Gun Dog stakes on Saturday!

Over Labor Day weekend 2004, a couple of our adopted rescue dogs participated in a couple of Hunt Tests.

Rob and his pointer, Ivy, earned their first leg towards their Junior Hunter Title. Debbie and her little English Setter, Ginger Snap, earned their final leg needed for their Junior Hunter Title. Way to go rescue dogs!!!

October 26, 2003

This past weekend IBR rescue dogs - Billy, Pete, Alex, and Pixie- participated in American Field walking Trials. They all did a fabulous job! Illinois Birdog Rescue alumni swept both field trial days taking home at least 20% of the total placements!!! Way to go rescue dogs!!!

Saturday at East Central Illinois Pointer and Setter Club (ECIPS) Pete took 3rd place in Derby and Billy took 3rd place in Gundog. Both dogs had outstanding runs. Pete had about 3 finds in the Derby. Billy did not find any birds, probably due to the drizzling rain, but he handled better than he ever has.

On Sunday Alex, one of our newest rescues, creamed the competition in the Central Prairie Field Trial taking both 2nd place in Derby and 2nd place in puppy. Billy again took 3rd place in Gundog with an excellent bird find! Pixie was a little overwhelmed with excitement at her first field trial. While she didn't hunt as nicely as her mom would have liked, they both had a fabulous time walking.

Congratulations to everyone!!! We are proud to have you represent Illinois Birddog Rescue, Inc.


Billy - 3rd place Gundog and Pete - 3rd place in Derby
Alex - 2nd place Puppy and 2nd place Derby
Billy - 3rd place Gundog

October 12, 2003


Buckwheat's first baby picture
Buckwheat earns his Junior Hunter Title

Thelmalou's Little Rascal aka Buckwheat finished his Junior Hunter Title on Saturday :O). Weeties came in with a litter of 6 Pointer looking puppies a year ago April from Connie Guthrie of Save Our Strays. He was the only one of the six to come down with Parvo and survived and I just couldn't let him go. One of my goals with him was to ILP, ( Indefinite Listing Privilege ), him as a Pointer and try and get an AKC Hunting title on him. On his way to his Junior Hunter Title he proved himself to be quite the little hunter and in many cases he out ran, and out hunted his Pure bred bracemates. His scores were always very respectable too. I am very proud of him and that we achieved this goal.

Wes did a fabulous job on Sunday. I entered him only that day because I knew the judges would appreciate my big running Pointer. He was braced with a young Weimaraner who gave up trying to chase him after a few minutes. Wes ran big but under control. As he entered the bird field he slammed on Point and I heard the judges say, "That's what I'm talking about!", commenting on his style. He continued to run big covering the trees lines surrounding the bird field and hit every edge always keeping an eye on me and cracking his happy long Pointer tail. He just handled beautifully for the short time he was on the ground. Both judges went out of their way to say how much they enjoyed watching him work and how flashy he is and of course they had to ask if he was altered...

They also LOVED Jessie's "Billy Bob" and gave him great scores and great compliments on his running, hunting and pointing style. I filled them in on how he was a rescue out of Knoxville, Tennessee and that he was surrendered because he was gun shy- NOT!! Jessie and Billy finished their JH on Sunday as the second Illinois Birddog Rescue to achieve that title. This is Jessie's first ever Pointer and Billy just ADORES her-he gives her googily eyes. WAY TO GO!!!!!!

We will be heading down to Leroy, Il for an American Field Walking trail the end of October to run with the Good 'OL Boys and the Pointer Birdawgs...Actually they are very nice and appreciate the work we are doing for Illinois Birddog Rescue.

Lisa Spakowski-President
Illinois Birddog Rescue, Inc
www.birddogs.petfinder.com
Lucky Pets Petsitting/ Lucky Canine Agility
www.luckypets.net


Billy Bob's first qualifying round
Billy Bob's second qualifying round
Wesleigh's qualifying Junior Hunter run